$10,000 reward offered for vandalism information

Vandalism that shut down business Thursday at a construction site in Mound House has the company pulling out a big reward.

Paragon Associates Inc. is offering $10,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of whoever poured dirt into the fuel tanks and oil compartments of seven pieces of heavy equipment, including two scrapers, a bulldozer and a roller.

"Our job was shut down a whole day. That's major dollars in production lost," said Deborah Ferraira, Paragon project manager.

With the bulk of the work stopped, crews were sent home, she said. "This doesn't only affect the company, its affects the employees because they don't get paid for that day."

The felonious vandalism was discovered Thursday morning when workers fired up the machines, only to have them sputter to a stop 15 minutes later.

Construction on the job at Cygnet Drive resumed Friday.

Ferraira said this isn't the first time Paragon has been subjected to vandalism. At a Six Mile Canyon construction site in March windows were broken on a loader, backhoe and scraper.

"I don't know if the vandalism is targeting the company or targeting new growth," Ferraira said. "It will shut us down for a little while, but it's not going to stop us."

She said a reward is possible for information on any vandalism of Paragon equipment.

Lyon County Sheriff's Capt. Allen Veil said people who may have information should call the Dayton Substation at 246-6200, Lyon County Investigations at 577-5026 or Paragon Associates at 690-2400.

Contact F.T. Norton at ftnorton@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1213.